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Senior Finance Officer at African Vision Malawi

  • Full Time
  • Lilongwe, Malawi
  • Applications have closed
  • Salary: 000

African Vision Malawi

Organisation: African Vision Malawi 

Location: Lilongwe

Background Information

African Vision Malawi (“AVM”) is a small NGO based in Malawi and supported from the UK. More information is available at: www.africanvision.org.uk

Title: Senior Finance Officer

AVM is seeking a Senior Finance Officer for our office in Njewa to oversee all aspects of financial management of our country programmes, ensuring compliance with AVM internal policies and procedures as well as donor regulations, as well as being a liaison with financial stakeholders at country level.

Job Purpose

The Senior Finance Manager will oversee the day to day finance operations of the organisation and will need to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of financial policies, procedures, and systems in addition to being an excellent communicator. The Senior Finance Officer will also need to have outstanding reporting, analytical and time management abilities.

Required qualification and experience:

    1. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Accounting or Finance is required. An advanced degree is preferred.
    2. At least three years of continuous experience in Finance & Accounting in a busy environment with multiple donor funding streams.
    3. Proven sound and solid leadership skills, with an ability to lead large teams with competing demands.
    4. Demonstrated experience and skills with budget preparation and analysis, financial reporting preparation and presentation and the proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
    5. Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet.
    6. Advanced computer skills in MS Office programmes, particularly Excel
    7. In-depth knowledge of and at least three years’ experience in managing donor funding with International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) or charitable organisations.
    8. Knowledge and application of Quick Books and/or accounting systems.
    9. Fluency in both written and spoken English.

Desirable experience:

    1. Experience of programme management.
    2. Knowledge of procurement and supply chain processes
    3. Policy development

Other skills required:

    1. Good communication and excellent inter-personal skills.
    2. A team player who is respectful and confident at dealing with people at all levels and with different backgrounds
    3. Good analytical skills are essential.
    4. A problem solving and solution-oriented attitude; be methodical and adaptable.
    5. Planning skills and attention to detail
    6. Ability to work under minimal supervision and deliver on set objectives within given deadlines
    7. Approachable and willingness to listen and assist finance and non-finance colleagues
    8. Ability to work under pressure.
    9. Ability to occasionally conduct training of staff within the financial management area
    10. Motivation to learn and develop and keep abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules and regulations.

Senior Finance Officer main duties include

A. Control

  1. Implementation and adherence to Finance Policies
  2. Maintaining accurate financial records.
  3. Preparation for and support for external audits

B. Reporting/Analysis

  1. Creating periodic reports, such as balance sheets, profit & loss statements, etc.
  2. Compiling, analysing, and reporting financial data.
  3. Presenting data to managers, investors, and other entities.

C. Business Partnering

  1. Assisting management in the decision-making process by preparing budgets and financial forecasts and monthly or periodic Funds Transfer Requests
  2. Being part of the procurement function and delivering goods on behalf of African Vision Malawi
  3. Investigating project variances and submitting variance reports to management
  4. Reporting on project profitability to management
  5. Reporting to management on any opportunities for cost savings
  6. Responding to requests for more detail from management
  7. Holding regular monitoring meetings and reporting to relevant stakeholders on progress

D. Regulation and Risk Management

  1. Contributing to the formulation of financial contracts
  2. Keeping informed about current legislation relating to finance, taxation, and accounting.
  3. Providing ongoing financial risk analysis
  4. Complying with all company, local, state, and federal accounting, and financial regulations

E. Project Management/Control

  1. Authorizing the release of funds from project-related accounts
  2. Management of project accounts to monitor progress and provide timely reports
  3. Reporting to management regarding the remaining funding available for projects
  4. Closing out project accounts upon project completion 

F. IT/IS Simplification/enhancement

  1. Using IT, including QuickBooks, as appropriate to keep track of costs and progress
  2. Evaluate, propose, and implement system enhancements to improve financial functions
  3. Follow all African Vision Malawi policy on data protection, health and safety, confidentiality, and its Code of Conduct.

Summary of the Senior Finance Role:

To be an Advisor, Coach, Problem Solver and Business Partner for all Financial matters for both Malawi and UK.

Remuneration: The salary and allowances will be appropriate to your experience and within our funding levels.  Please understand that we are a small charity and consequently cannot pay salaries in line with large INGOs.

Contract: 6 months’ probation period and, if completed successfully, followed thereafter by a further 6 months with a fixed term contract anticipated thereafter (also subject to ongoing funding and the Trust’s needs and priorities).

Method of Application

This post is open to Malawian nationals.  We encourage applications from women and marginalised groups in line with our Equal Opportunities policy.  Only those meeting the criteria for this post will be considered for shortlisting. If you have not had a response within 14 days of the closing date, your application has not been successful.

Applications MUST be made online only using the following:

  • CV in English, no longer than 2 sides of A4 and in font no smaller than size 11, and:
  • An accompanying covering letter outlining your motivation in applying for this post as well as your skills and experience in line with the key areas of this post. It must also include details of your current remuneration package.

CVs and accompanying letters should be sent to hr@africanvision.org.uk .Applications that are late and/or do not comply with the application guidance and which do not meet the essential criteria will not be considered.  Interviews are scheduled to take place in Lilongwe in October (precise times to be provided to successful applicants).